SPOKANE, Wash. — An Otis-Orchard family is still recovering in the hospital following a crash in Bonner County that took the life of their five-year-old daughter.
Idaho State Patrol is still investigating after a truck crossed the center line and hit the family head-on. To help their investigation, ISP is asking anyone to share photos or videos. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Travis Bucher at (208) 209-8620.
The family is heartbroken over the loss of little Amelia. They say she will be remembered as a light in the room. Her uncle said she was with her mom and six-year-old brother, Patrick, who were on their way to a hockey tournament in Canada, but they never made it.
Photos of Amelia, who was killed in Bonner County car crash
At the Eagles Ice Arena, the home rink for Patrick, the hockey community and many of the teams who play here honored Amelia and her family while on the road this week.
Teams of all ages, including the Spokane Junior Chiefs, shared a moment of silence on the ice, while others donned the family's last name on their jerseys.
Patrick’s team also wore his name on their jerseys and his number on the back of their helmets. The greater hockey community is also supporting the family by placing their hockey sticks on their porch, using #sticksoutforAmelia.
Spokane hockey community honors teammate's sister killed in car crash
Phillip Siers, Amelia and Patrick's uncle and brother to their mother said the family is overwhelmed by all the support they've received.
“We absolutely appreciate the love at this community," Siers said. "People I've never spoken to, I don't know, they don't know our family, but the amount of love that they've shown for Amelia is what's going to get us through.”
"She will be remembered as the light in the room," Siers said. "She loved to talk to everyone. She loved to tell everyone long stories. She will forever be remembered that she wasn't afraid to tell us all about her day [and] tell us all about [it] in great detail. You know her new Barbie doll and where her Barbie doll was going to be. She'll be missed."
Siers said his sister and nephew are still in the hospital and have a long road to recovery ahead. He set up a GoFundMe account for the family which has already received massive support from the community.